The Golden State Warriors got back in the win column with a 120-107 victory against the Brooklyn Nets in a valiant team effort. 

Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 48 points, scoring 27 and 21, respectively. But it was the effort from the Golden State reserves that really told the tale of the game. 

The Warriors’ bench outscored the Nets’ bench 58-27. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 11 points. De’Anthony Melton, Will Richard and Gary Payton II each had 10. 

‘With the back to back, we knew we were going to play a lot of people, which we did. I think we had 12 guys play 10 minutes or more,’ Kerr said to reporters after the game. ‘It was great. That group came in and really got the game right. From there, it was really fun to watch everybody contribute.”

Watching Curry go on solo runs as he did throughout the game, Kerr said, “It never gets old coaching Steph, I’ll tell you that.”

The Nets were led by Michael Porter Jr., who finished with 27 points and nine rebounds. Brooklyn rookie guard Egor Demin scored a career-high 23 points on 7-for-14 shooting from three-point territory. 

Golden State’s second unit came in defensive minded. They had high intensity and made the hustle plays, racking up eight steals and four blocks. 

Nic Claxton added 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for Brooklyn, as they fell to 10-20. The Nets played their last game of 2025 and will face the Houston Rockets on New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1. 

The Warriors are back over .500 at 17-16. The Warriors’ next game is Wednesday, Dec. 31 against the Charlotte Hornets. 

Warriors vs. Nets highlights

1st quarter highlights

Brooklyn jumped out to a 10-point game to start the game, leading 18-8, with 7:33 remaining after a Michael Porter Jr. dunk. 

The Nets knocked down six threes in the opening period on 55% shooting from deep as a team. Their biggest lead was 15. 

The Warriors got a big boost from Trayce Jackson-Davis who recorded three points, two blocks and a steal in the first quarter to set the tone defensively for Golden State. 

His presence helped spark a 15-2 run to end the quarter. The Dubs were down 30-28 at the end of the first period. 

Nets forward Michael Porter scored 10 points in the opening 12 minutes. Jimmy Butler led Golden State with eight points. 

2nd quarter highlights 

The continued to show up defensively forcing turnovers, getting deflections, drawing offensive fouls and making it difficult for Brooklyn. 

Golden State seemed to find a rhythm and were in sync offensively, sharing the ball, finding the open man cutting to the basket. 

The Warriors got great bench production in the first half, scoring 37 points in the first half. 

Golden State ended the half with the lead, 59-57, led by Stephen Curry who had 10 points. Davis had nine points off the bench in the first half. 

3rd quarter highlights 

Both teams traded baskets through the third quarter. Curry began to catch fire, scoring 10 points. 

There were a couple of questionable calls where Curry made a three pointer and a pull up near the free throw line and believed he was in the act of shooting, but officials called both on the floor, not counting the shots. 

Porter continued to score in bunches for the Nets. He was helped out by rookie guard Egor Demin, who had 17 at the end of three quarters. 

Butler came alive in the period, initiating an 11-0 run by himself. He ended the quarter with 21 points. Warriors led 89-85 after three quarters.

4th quarter highlights 

Brooklyn’s Traore cashed in a three to open the quarter before the Warriors went on a 8-0 run.

Curry nailed a 25-foot three-pointer from straight ahead to pass Kevin Garnett at No. 21 on the NBA all-time scoring list. 

Noah Clowney kept the Nets in it after getting to the line, making one of two, before hitting a three to keep Brooklyn within six. 

Demin hit a career-high when he hit a corner three giving him 20 points. 

Brandin Podziemski followed with a three of his own helping the Warriors eventually build a double-digit lead. 

Nic Claxton went on a sequence with a block then back-to-back dunks to bring Brooklyn within six. 

A few plays later, Curry answered with a three-point play getting fouled and hitting a mid-range jumper. 

The game was sealed when De’Anthony Melton blocked a Demin three-point attempt and scored on the other end. Will Richard followed with a steal and slam to put Golden State up 116-106. The Warriors would go on to win 120-107. 

Warriors keys to victory

• Learn from last game’s mistakes:After a loss to the Raptors, Golden State should look to focus on the little things that cost them the game in Toronto: taking care of the basketball, rebounding and continuous physical play. The Warriors cut their turnovers down to 14, and outrebound the Nets 40-34.
• Contain the Thomas-Porter Jr. Show: Defensively, there will have to be a heightened focus as the Warriors face volume scorers Michael Porter Jr., averaging 25.8 points per game, and Cam Thomas, who averages 22.3 points. Porter scored 27, however Thomas was held to 13.
• Defend the paint: It’s easier said than done since Quinten Post is the lone 7-footer on the team, but the Warriors have to defend the paint better than they have. Not only were they outrebounded last game, but they also allowed 70 points in the paint. Nets only scored 30 points in the paint.
• More involvement from others: When the Warriors are passing the ball and everyone is involved they are a much better team. No matter how entertaining it is to watch Curry go on a flurry, guys have to remain involved in the offense and knock down good looks when the ball swings their way.Warriors’ bench scored 58 points behind Davis (11) and Payton, Richard and Melton (11 each).

Warriors’ next five games

• Dec. 31 at Charlotte Hornets
• Jan. 2 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
• Jan. 3 vs. Utah Jazz
• Jan. 5 at Los Angeles Clippers
• Jan. 7 vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Dennis Hamlin, the father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, died from injuries suffered during a house fire that destroyed the home of Denny Hamlins’ parents in North Carolina on Sunday, Dec. 28, according to a news release issued Monday by the Gaston County Emergency Management and Fire Services, as reported by Fox Sports and multiple other outlets.

Dennis Hamlin was 75.

Denny Hamlin’s mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, was listed in critical condition and transferred to a hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, according to NASCAR.com, which reported the Hamlins’ house was about 20 miles outside of Charlotte.

Authorities in Gaston County, North Carolina, told WCNC-TV took firefighters about two hours to extinguish the blaze at the two-story home. According to The Athletic, Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department Chief David Toomey said 40% to 45% of the home was already burning by the time fire crews arrived.

According to the Associated Press, Denny Hamlin’s parents were found outside the home, suffering from catastrophic injuries. Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital, according to the Associated Press.

A company called Won One Real Estate that lists Denny Hamlin as its manager owns the home, according to multiple published reports.

“They had some really expensive cars in the garage and some racing memorabilia and stuff, so all that was saved,” Toomey told The Athletic. “We were able to save all that and get it out so it wasn’t damaged.”

Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 champion, finished second in Cup Series 2025 standings, losing to champion Kyle Larson by four points. He has won 60 races, ranking jo, tied for 10^th all-time in overall victories.

In October, after winning the 60th race of his career, Hamlin grew emotional while talking about the sacrifices his father and mother made so he could pursue his dream of being a NASCAR driver.

“He’s the one that got me into racing and just took me to a racetrack when I was five and then made all the sacrifices financially to keep me going,’’ Hamlin said of his father. “Sold everything they had and we almost lost our house a couple times and just tried to keep it all going.’

Dennis Hamlin owned his own trailer business but it wasn’t enough to pay all of the bills, according to NASCAR.com, which reported he took out two mortgages on the family’s home and sold four classic cars to help cover expenses as Denny Hamlin climbed the ranks as a race car driver and became a multimillion.

Hamlin co-owns the 23XI Racing NASCAR team with NBA legend Michael Jordan. Earlier this month, the team settled a multimillion-dollar antitrust lawsuit it and Front Row Motorsports filed against NASCAR.

Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season represented the penultimate chance for the league’s top MVP candidates to show why they are deserving of the award.

What about Matthew Stafford? The Rams signal-caller endured one of his worst games of the season in Los Angeles’ 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Stafford entered Week 17 holding a slight lead in the NFL’s MVP race over Maye. Was the 37-year-old’s rocky outing enough to shift the race in favor of the second-year quarterback?

Here’s a look at the NFL MVP odds as the league calendar rolls on into Week 18.

NFL MVP odds: Week 18

Here’s a look at where Maye and Stafford rank in the NFL MVP award odds after 17 weeks of action, according to BetMGM:

1. QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots (-750)

Stafford was ahead of Maye in the NFL MVP race entering Week 17. Maye flipped the script on the veteran quarterback by putting together one of the best performances of his career to date.

Maye completed 19 of 21 passes for 256 yards and a career-high five touchdowns against the Jets. He posted a 157 passer rating and a 99.8 QBR, which was the highest-ever posted by a quarterback since the metric was created in 2006.

Maye leads the NFL in completion percentage (71.2%), yards per attempt (8.9) and passer rating (112.9). He has thrown for 4,203 yards, 30 touchdowns and just eight interceptions while adding 409 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Maye will also get credit for elevating a solid-but-unspectacular Patriots squad to be a contender in the AFC. New England clinched the AFC East title in Week 17 – something the team hasn’t done since Tom Brady’s final season with it in 2019 – thanks in no small part to Maye’s excellent performance.

2. QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (+450)

Stafford has been the MVP frontrunner for a good chunk of the 2025 NFL season. However, a rocky performance against the Falcons in Week 17 could prove costly for the 37-year-old as he looks to take home the award for the first time.

Stafford completed 22 of 38 passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns and a season-worst three interceptions against the Falcons. The two first-half picks proved costly, as one was returned for a touchdown while the other came one play before Bijan Robinson scored on a 93-yard scamper.

Stafford was without several starting offensive linemen for Monday’s game, including left tackle Alaric Jackson. He was sacked three times, tying a season high, while facing a lot of pressure that appeared to bother him.

While that game may leave a bad taste in the mouths of voters, Stafford has still completed 65.2% of his passes for 4,448 yards, a league-high 42 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. His 108.8 passer rating ranks second-best in the NFL behind Maye, while Stafford’s 8.0 yards per attempt ranks top-five league-wide, illustrating the narrow gap between the two quarterbacks.

But if recency bias plays any role in the MVP debate, as the odds shift indicate, Maye will end up having the edge over Stafford entering the season’s final week.

3. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (+20000)

T-4. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (+25000)

T-4. QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (+25000)

The United States trailed for the first time in the world junior hockey championship.

But the way they came back to beat Slovakia on Monday, Dec. 29, bodes well for their chances in the rest of the tournament.

The Americans were down 2-0 after one period against their toughest opponent so far. But they rallied and were tied 4-4 after two periods, took a 6-4 lead early in the third and held on for a wild 6-5 victory.

The USA (3-0) were playing without injured defenseman Cole Hutson, but they finally connected on the power play, 2025 tournament standout James Hagens scored his first two goals and Will Zellers picked up his fourth goal and third game-winner.

The Americans will face 3-0 Sweden on New Year’s Eve, with the winner capturing the Group A title. Hutson is day-to-day, so he potentially could be available after leaving Saturday’s game on a stretcher.

USA vs. Slovakia highlights

Up next for Team USA

The USA and Sweden (both 3-0) will face off on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (6 p.m. ET, NHL Network). The winner of that game will win Group A and face the fourth-place team in Group B. The loser would face the third-place team in Group B.

Players of the game

Adam Belusko (short-handed goal) is Slovakia’s player of the game. James Hagens is the U.S. player after he scored twice. Bill Guerin, general manager of the Minnesota Wild and the U.S. Olympic team, hands out the awards.

Final score: USA 6, Slovakia 5

The USA rallies from a 2-0 deficit after one period to improve to 3-0. Will Zellers’ goal that made it 6-4 ends up being the game-winner. It’s his third of the tournament.

Slovakia goalie out

USA ices the puck. There’s 45 seconds left.

Slovakia scores

Tomas Chrenko scores with 1:54 left to pull Slovakia within one goal. It’s his second goal of the night and fifth of the tournament. USA 6, Slovakia 5

Slovakia pulls goalie

Slovakia has an extra skater.

Huge save by Caleb Heil

Michal Svrcek has a wide-open net, but Heil reaches over and gets his blocker on it.

USA power play

Lukas Tomka is called for slashing. Slovakia kills it off. We’re midway through the third period.

Slovakia power play

AJ Spellacy is called for roughing. The USA kills it off.

USA goal survives review

Will Zellers puts in the puck on the doorstep after some pinpoint passing. His fourth goal of the tournament goes in off his skate, but it survives a review. USA 6, Slovakia 4

USA power play

Adam Goljer put the puck over the glass. Slovakia kills it off, but USA is on another power play as Adam Nemec is called for tripping.

James Hagens gives USA lead

The Bruins prospect scores his second goal of the game 18 seconds into the third period. The USA has its first lead of the game. USA 5, Slovakia 4.

Third period underway

4-4 tie.

End of second: USA 4, Slovakia 4

What a wild period. The USA entered down by two goals and tied it 3-3 and 4-4. The period featured a short-handed goal by each team, one Slovakia power play goal and the USA’s first man-advantage goal of the tournament. The USA outshot Slovakia 23-10 in the period.

James Hagens ties game

James Hagens scores from the slot with 44.1 seconds left in the second period to tie the game for the USA. It’s his first goal of the tournament. USA 4, Slovakia 4

Cole Eiserman robbed

Michal Pradel stops Cole Eiserman from in tight.

Slovakia retakes lead

MIchal Svrcek scores on a goalmouth scramble to give Slovakia the lead. Slovakia 4, USA 3

Slovakia power play

Chase Reid is called for roughing. A little bit of embellishment?

USA ties it up

Ryker Lee makes a perfectly placed shot over Michal Pradel’s shoulder to give the USA its first power-play goal and a tie game. USA 3, Slovakia 3

USA power play

Michal Capos is called for tripping. The USA starts its second unit and nearly puts one in, but it’s stopped on the goal line.

USA gets one back

Brendan McMorrow gets the goal on a rebound for his second point of the game. AJ Spellacy adds a secondary assist and also has two points. Slovakia 3, USA 2

Slovakia scores short-handed

Slovakia restores its two-goal lead after a USA turnover on the power play. Adam Belusko got a lot of speed on that short-handed shot. The USA gets some chances after but falls to 0-for-7 on the power play in the tournament. Slovakia 3, USA 1

USA power play

Slovakia is called for too many men on the ice. The USA has yet to score a power-play goal in the tournament.

USA gets short-handed goal

Big goal by the USA. The Americans block a shot and break down the ice. A.J. Spellacy reaches out and redirects a pass from Brendan McMorrow past Michal Pradel. The USA kills the rest of the penalty and was the more dangerous team. Slovakia 2, USA 1

Slovakia power play

LJ Mooney is called for interference. Slovakia already has scored on the power play.

Second period underway

The USA trails 2-0.

End of first: Slovakia 2, USA 0

The USA overcame adversity in their last game by winning after Cole Hutson left the ice on a stretcher. Now they’ll have to overcome adversity on the scoreboard as they trail for the first time in the tournament. They’re without Hutson again as he sits out from the Game 2 injury. The USA picked up play later in the period and trails 8-6 on shots.

Teddy Stiga chance

Stiga, who had last season’s golden goal, has a breakaway but goalie Michal Pradel forces him to shoot wide. The USA has only two shots so far.

Slovakia scores again

Tomas Chrenko scores on the power play from the left faceoff circle through a screen. It’s his fourth goal of the tournament. Slovakia 2, USA 0

Slovakia power play

Kamil Bednarik is called for holding.

Slovakia scores first

Tobias Pitka takes a drop pass from Tobias Tomik and beats Caleb Heil blocker side. This is the first time that the USA has trailed in the tournament. Slovakia 1, USA 0

Game underway

Goalie matchup is USA’s Caleb Heil vs. Slovakia’s Michal Pradel.

What channel is USA vs. Slovakia world juniors hockey game today?

TV channel: NHL Network

Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.

Follow world junior championships on Fubo

What time is USA vs. Slovakia world juniors hockey game today?

Date: Monday, Dec. 29

Time: 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time)

The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.

World juniors USA vs Slovakia: How to watch, stream

Time: 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 29

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.

Today’s world juniors hockey schedule

All times p.m. ET

Monday, Dec. 29

• Sweden 8, Germany 1:. Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell, Flyers prospect Jack Berglund and draft-eligible Viggo Bjorck each scored twice as Sweden improved to 3-0. Germany’s Elias Pul tied the game in the first period on a 2-on-0 break but Sweden pulled away with four goals in the second period.
• Czechia 2, Finland 1 (OT): Blues prospect Adam Jiricek scored 3:39 into overtime to give Czechia the win. He was alone in front and put his stick between his legs before shooting. Czechia opened the scoring on a five-minute power play after Finland’s Veeti Vaisanen was ejected for cross-checking. Emil Hemming tied the game with 20 seconds left to force overtime.
• USA 6, Slovakia 5: The USA rallied from 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 deficits to stay unbeaten. James Hagens tied the game 4-4 in the final minute of the second period, then put the USA ahead to stay 18 seconds into the third period. Will Zellers ended up with the game-winner, his third of the tournament.
• Canada 9, Denmark1: Projected No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna had a hat trick to lead the rout. The win moved Canada ahead of Finland in Group B. Those teams play on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Denmark (0-3) will face Latvia on Dec. 30 and try to win to give it a chance to avoid playing in the relegation game.

USA vs. Slovakia history

This is the teams’ 21st meeting. The USA has won 15 times.

How world juniors standings work

Teams get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime loss and zero for a regulation loss. Sweden has nine points. The USA would have nine if it beats Slovakia in regulation. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition so even if the Americans lose, they could win their group with a win against Sweden in regulation.

USA, Slovakia lineups

The USA is adjusting its defense pairings and first power play unit with Cole Hutson out.

Cole Hutson injury update

Team USA No. 1 defenseman Cole Hutson will sit out Monday’s game against Slovakia. He remains day-to-day after being hit in the head by a shot on Saturday and leaving the ice on a stretcher.

USA players to watch

Will Zellers leads the USA with three goals and four points. He has the winning goal in both of the USA’s first two games. Defenseman Adam Kleber has a plus-minus rating of +5, which ties him with Hutson.

Slovakia players to watch

Tomas Chrenko had a hat trick against Germany. Adam Nemec, whose older brother Simon plays for the New Jersey Devils, has two assists in the tournament.

World juniors 2026 predictions

Who will win gold, silver and bronze at this year’s tournament? Who will take home the individual awards? Here are predictions from The Hockey News staff.

The calendar year is about to close and NBA action is about to heat up.

Not only is the trade deadline a little more than a month away, but we finally have a new No. 1 atop these power rankings.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have dominated basketball for a full season and then some, but they have hit a recent skid, losing four of their last seven — which came after a 16-game winning streak.

The Thunder still have reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the young core remains intact, so it’s not time to sound the alarms.

It’s clear, however, that there are at least some challengers capable of playing with OKC.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings after Week 9 of the 2025-26 regular season:

USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings

Note: Records and stats through Dec. 28. Parentheses show movement from last week’s rankings

NBA Week 10 power rankings: Top 5

1. San Antonio Spurs, 23-8 (+2)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder, 27-5 (-1)

3. Detroit Pistons, 24-8 (-1)

4. New York Knicks, 22-9 (—)

5. Denver Nuggets, 22-9 (—)

You don’t defeat the top team and defending champions three times in the span of 13 days without taking an edge over them. The Spurs may not be all the way complete, but with Victor Wembanyama all the way back and their trio of speedy guards pushing pace, San Antonio may be breaking out as an incredibly dangerous team. The Spurs, at least right now, are just that. The Nuggets got a massive day from Nikola Jokić on Christmas Day, but three losses in five games is a bit of a concern.

NBA Week 10 power rankings: Nos. 6-10

6. Boston Celtics, 19-12 (+3)

7. Minnesota Timberwolves, 20-12 (—)

8. Houston Rockets, 19-10 (—)

9.Los Angeles Lakers, 20-10 (-3)

10. Phoenix Suns, 18-13 (+2)

Boston is quietly lurking, though its schedule has been relatively light with no games played yet against Western Conference powers: the Spurs, Thunder or Nuggets. The Timberwolves will kick themselves for giving away a nine-point lead in overtime to the Nuggets Christmas Day, a game that could carry seeding implications down the road. The big concern for the Lakers is that they still haven’t figured out how to play cohesively with both Luka Dončić and LeBron James both on the floor; losing Austin Reaves (calf) for extended time doesn’t help, either.

NBA Week 10 power rankings: Nos. 11-15

11. Orlando Magic, 18-14 (—)

12. Toronto Raptors, 19-14 (+1)

13. Miami Heat, 17-15 (+5)

14. Cleveland Cavaliers, 17-16 (—)

15. Philadelphia 76ers, 16-14 (-5)

Every team in this middle pack suffers from lack of consistency; the Magic have seemingly alternated between wins and losses all December. The Cavaliers clearly need to rework their roster, so expect them to be active before the trading deadline. After jumping up the rankings last week, the Sixers have dropped three consecutive and need improved perimeter shooting from role players.

NBA Week 10 power rankings: Nos. 16-20

16. Golden State Warriors, 16-16 (+3)

17. Memphis Grizzlies, 15-17 (—)

18. Chicago Bulls, 15-16 (-2)

19. Milwaukee Bucks, 13-19 (+4)

20. Atlanta Hawks, 15-18 (-5)

The Bulls have actually won five of their last six and are playing far quicker (ranking second in pace at 103.64), but they’re victims of movement above them. Getting Giannis Antetokounmpo back and healthy is the boost the Bucks needed, though trade rumors will not go away. And the Hawks have lost six consecutive and are 0-5 in games Trae Young has played in since his return, averaging 133 points per game in those contests. Atlanta might be best served to ship him off.

NBA Week 10 power rankings: Nos. 21-25

21. Portland Trail Blazers, 13-19 (—)

22. Utah Jazz, 12-19 (—)

23. Los Angeles Clippers, 10-21 (+5)

24. Dallas Mavericks, 12-21 (-4)

25. Charlotte Hornets, 11-20 (-1)

Have the Clippers finally turned the corner? Winners of four consecutive, three of those have come against solid opponents (Pistons, Rockets, Lakers). Anthony Davis is hurt once again, and the Mavericks have lost four of five. And the Hornets have some markers of an improving team; they’re tied for first in defensive rebounding percentage (71.6%) and rank fifth in 3-pointers made per game (14.9).

NBA Week 10 power rankings: Nos. 26-30

26. Brooklyn Nets, 10-19 (-1)

27. New Orleans Pelicans, 8-25 (-1)

28. Sacramento Kings, 8-24 (+1)

29. Washington Wizards, 7-23 (+1)

30. Indiana Pacers, 6-26 (-3)

The Nets are on a little tear, winning three in a row against the Raptors, 76ers and Timberwolves. The Pelicans desperately need shooting, ranking dead last in the NBA in 3s made per game (10.6), and the Pacers are the worst offensive team in basketball, ranking last in rating (107.7). The return of Aaron Nesmith will help, but it won’t fix all their issues.

Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith was the crown jewel of the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class, as the No. 1-ranked recruit in the country was the program’s most valuable offensive weapon as a true freshman last season.

Ohio State had to fend off numerous other programs for Smith, including the Miami Hurricanes, who the Buckeyes will face in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals in the Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 31. The Hurricanes won their first-ever CFP game against Texas A&M on Dec. 20, giving the program some momentum in the national championship picture for the first time in recent memory.

If only Miami’s momentum started before Smith was set to sign, the Hurricanes’ could’ve potentially paired Smith with Malachi Toney, one of the top young receivers in college football.

‘I’d have probably ended up going to Miami if things were on track then and there,’ Smith told reporters on Dec. 29 ahead of the Cotton Bowl. ‘But I chose to stick with Ohio State.’

Smith committed to Ohio State in 2022 and stuck with his commitment for more than a year before signing in December 2023. He continued taking visits after committing, however, taking trips to Florida State, Miami, Georgia and Florida, according to 247Sports.

Smith is already one of the best players in college football, after catching 80 passes for 1,086 yards with 11 touchdowns this season. He finished the 2024 season with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards with 15 scores.

The Hurricanes have won double-digit games in back-to-back seasons under fourth-year coach Mario Cristobal, finishing 10-3 in 2024 and currently holding an 11-2 record this season. Cristobal was coming off a 7-win season in 2023 and a 5-win season in 2022 when Smith was deciding where to sign.

Miami only had two double-digit win seasons from 2003-23, which came in 2003 and 2017 under Larry Coker and Mark Richt, respectively.

Smith is likely to be among the top players selected in the 2027 NFL Draft, when he’s eligible to leave college after his junior season. For now, he’s focused on taking down his hometown school as Ohio State looks to repeat as national champions.

Despite a light holiday week of on-court activity and no upsets, there is a slight change in the top five of the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll.

Michigan retains the No. 1 spot, claiming 20 of 31 first-place votes this week. The remaining 11 firsts go to No. 2 Arizona. No. 3 Iowa State and No. 4 Connecticut also stay put. Duke climbs back into the top five, edging No. 6 Purdue by six poll points.

The bottom of the top 10 is also unchanged, with Gonzaga, Houston, Michigan State and Brigham Young holding steady.

TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball poll

The rest of the Top 25 is likewise largely the same, though Louisville did move into a tie for 13^th with Nebraska. There is also an adjustment at the back end, as St. John’s returns to the No. 25 position as Southern California falls to second among others receiving votes behind Kentucky.

The PWHL passed the quarter mark of the 2025-26 season and the league standings are starting to take shape. The Boston Fleet remain in first place overall, but with 3 points on the line for a regulation win, the PWHL standings can quickly change. A number of teams continue to deal with injuries to significant players on their roster, which could also factor into the next handful of games as the league enters its longest uninterrupted stretch before the 2026 Olympics.

Here’s a look at USA TODAY Sports’ PWHL Power Rankings at the quarter mark of the season:

1. Boston Fleet (6-0-1-1)The Fleet continue to prove pre-season critics wrong. Their top defensive pairing of Megan Keller and Haley Winn has been the best in the PWHL this season, Aerin Frankel has been nearly unbeatable in net, and they’ve received scoring by committee, both from rookies and veterans. New head coach Kris Sparre deserves praise for the impact he’s made. The only question is whether or the Boston Fleet can continue to win or will teams figure out — and in some cases attempt to mimic — the Fleet’s systems and approach.
2. Minnesota Frost (3-1-1-2)The back-to-back champions continue to find ways to score and win. The Frost are getting contributions from familiar faces like Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Britta Curl-Salemme, who remain a trio that pushes the pace and challenges opposing defenders night in and night out. They’re also, however, seeing rookies like Abby Hustler and Kendall Cooper effectively fill the gaps left by expansion in their lineup. The Frost are always a tough team to play against, and no one should count out their ability to three-peat.
3. Montreal Victoire (3-1-0-3)Montreal started to look fatigued after a road trip that took them out east to Halifax, then all the way out west to Vancouver and Seattle, and then back home again, but the veteran-laden team managed to hold on and pick up points. Managing the workload of their older core, who will all be counted upon heavily at the Olympics, will be a task for head coach Kori Cheverie, but it will become easier for the Victoire once injured forwards Jade Downie-Landry and Lina Ljungblom are able to join the roster fully for the first time this season. When they return, this is a team that will only get better.
4. Toronto Sceptres (4-0-2-2)The Sceptres are playing tighter hockey than they have in the past, but with injuries on their blueline to Renata Fast and Allie Munroe, their ability to stay in tight games has been challenged. So far, so good for the Sceptres who sit second in the PWHL standings. Still, the team has been waiting for someone to consistently step forward and contribute offensively. Jesse Compher has shown more punch lately, but the Sceptres need bigger offensive contributions from Natalie Spooner, Daryl Watts, and their rookie cohort before they can be put in the contender bracket.

1. Seattle Torrent (3-0-1-3)It’s best to leave sleeping giants alone, but recently, Seattle’s high octane offense that includes players like Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter, Julia Gosling, Hannah Bilka, and Danielle Serdachny has shown signs of life. It’s bad news for opponents, but good news for Seattle fans. Hannah Murphy has seemingly stepped into the starting role stealing the job from Corinne Schroeder who was an inaugural signing of the team. Murphy’s play has helped jumpstart Seattle, and recent depth contributions are helping to diversify their attack beyond the top group.

1. Ottawa Charge (1-3-0-5)After a horrid start, the Ottawa Charge have shown they are the same team that fought their way to the Walter Cup final last season. Ottawa strung together a trio of wins — two in overtime and one in a shootout — to hit the quarter mark of their schedule. After a stretch of lackluster losses, it was a welcomed shock to the Charge’s system. If they can get Emily Clark going, who continues to sit among league leaders in shots and scoring chances despite not registering a point, this team could be this year’s surprise story. Before that however, they’ll need to turn those extra time wins into regulation points.

1. New York Sirens (3-0-0-5)In the PWHL, there really isn’t a sophomore slump like in the NHL, because without a farm system it often takes rookies the majority of their first season in the league to develop and get comfortable. New York’s rookies, including Kristyna Kaltounkova, Casey O’Brien, Maddi Wheeler, and others are on that journey together, and when it clicks they are a fun team to watch. The Sirens have proven they can beat anyone, but not with the consistency they’ll need to make the playoffs. Expect the Sirens to get better as the year goes on.

1. Vancouver Goldeneyes (2-1-1-4)Picked by just about everyone to walk away with the PWHL championship this season, the Vancouver Goldeneyes haven’t clicked as a team yet. No question, they have a wealth of talent, depth, and a rabid fan base averaging more than 11,000 spectators per game, but they’re also proving that big names don’t alsways win games. Vancouver needs more desperation in their play, and they need those veteran players to step up in big moments for a key save, or clutch goal. Once the Goldeneyes hit their stride, they’ll be a force to reckon with. Right now, they’re a team no opponent is afraid to face.

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam, also the fiancée of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, may have crashed during Friday’s 1000-meter speed skating Olympic trials, but her Olympic hopes are still alive.

Leerdam finished second in Sunday’s 500-meter race, with a time of 37.242, just behind first-place Femke Kok (36.873).

However, a second-place finish does not guarantee Leerdam a spot on the Netherlands Olympic roster. In 2022, the New York Times unveiled ‘The Matrix,’ a series of algorithms the Dutch use to determine the best possible speed skaters for each Winter Olympics. The Netherlands has dominated the sport for many years, so clearly their ‘Matrix’ has some validity to it, but it could mean Leerdam’s absence in February.

Leerdam’s speed skating prowess

Leerdam was heartbroken after crashing in the 1000-meter race on Friday, but still feels confident that she will be selected for the 2026 team.

Per Olympics.com’s Lena Smirnova, Leerdam said after Sunday’s race, ‘I’ve won the past World Cups. I’ve always been at least in the top two at the world level.’ She continued, ‘I hope they’ll look at my level, including today, how I was skating before I fell, and the growth I’m making.’

Leerdam won the silver medal in 2022 in the 1000-meter race, and won two more 1000-meter races during the 2025-26 World Cup season.

Jake Paul’s reaction

Paul, an athlete in his own right, made sure to shout out his fiancée on social media, posting an Instagram story in honor of his Leerdam’s performance.

The story was a video of his fiancée on the ice with the caption, ‘So proud of you warrior.’

When will the Dutch National Selection Committee make its decision?

It is unclear whether or not Leerdam will make the Olympic team currently. A decision is expected to be made early in January.

When do the Winter Olympics begin?

Events for the 2026 Winter Olympics will begin as early as February 4. Speed skating will not begin until February 7.

The two events that Leerdam could participate in — the 1000-meter and 500-meter — will take place on February 9 and February 15, respectively.